ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan criticized the government for mismanaging the national economy on Sunday, saying the ruling coalition was hiding behind an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan program to justify spiraling inflation in the country.

Addressing his party workers and supporters in different Pakistani cities through a video link, Khan said his own administration was dealing with the global lending agency during the worst coronavirus outbreak but managed to keep the prices low by offering fuel and power subsidies.

“They have been in the IMF program for two months,” he said. “We were in the IMF program for two and a half years. Were we not under pressure to raise prices? Did we not repeatedly negotiate with the IMF? Did we not protect the interest of our people?“

The former prime minister, who was driven out of power in a no-confidence vote earlier this year, maintained he had inherited difficult economic circumstances after winning the general elections in 2018.

The country, he said, was facing a massive current account deficit of $20 billion back then which was gradually brought down.

Khan noted that despite all the challenges, the economy grew at the rate of 5.6 percent by the time he was ousted.

The former prime minister maintained Pakistan’s remittances and exports had started falling in recent months, adding the country was at risk of running out of the dollar reserves.

“I am afraid they are taking Pakistan where Sri Lanka is,” he continued.

Khan said it was imperative for people to wage a peaceful struggle against the new government under the present circumstances.

“All of you need to prepare yourself,” he added. “I will give you a call. We will resume our peaceful protest which is also our constitutional right. And we will continue to do it until we get the date for a free and transparent elections in the country.”